This hymn was likely a show-stopper, with dragons and battles and erupting volcanoes and giants.
Athena is the Goddess of Athens, the Parthenon is her temple.
Athena is usually depicted as a warrior Goddess, but she is also associated with wise counsel and skilled craftmanship.
She is often depicted as carrying a shield with the image of a Gorgon, a monster that probably represents the power of the Earth.
Athena was born from the head of Zeus after he swallowed her pregnant mother, Metis (Goddess of wise counsel, craftmanship, wisdom) in order to protect his reign from any subsequent son.
The hymn refers to Athena as having province over caves, which could be a reference to her power over dragons, gorgons, serpents, and such creatures as dwell in caves (her power is earth's power):
Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 12. 423 & 480 ff (trans. Way): (Greek epic C4th A.D.) :
"But then a yet more hideous punishment Athena visited on his hapless sons. A cave there was, beneath a rugged cliff exceeding high, unscalable, wherein dwelt fearful monsters of the deadly brood of Typhon, in the rock-clefts of the isle Kalydna that looks Troyward from the sea. Thence stirred she up the strength of serpents twain, and summoned them to Troy. By her uproused they shook the island as with earthquake: roared the sea; the waves disparted as they came. Onward they swept with fearful-flickering tongues . . .
Swiftly they came whither the Goddess sped them: with grim jaws whetting their deadly fangs, on his hapless sons sprang they."
Athena is known for slaying the Giants/Gigantes. The Gigantes (Giants) were also born of Earth/Ge:
"Ge, it is said (Apollod. i. 6. § 1, &c.), indignant at the fate of her former children, the Titans, gave birth to the Gigantes, that is, monstrous and unconquerable giants, with fearful countenances and the tails of dragons. (Comp. Ov. Trist. iv. 7, 17.) They were born, according to some, in Phlegrae (i. e. burning fields), in Sicily, Campania, or Arcadia, and, according to others, in the Thracian Pallene. (Apollod., Paus. ll. cc. ; Pind. Nem. i. 67; Strab. pp. 245, 281, 330; Schol. ad Hom. Il. viii. 479.) It is worthy of remark that Homer, as well as later writers, places the Gigantes in volcanic districts, and most authorities in the western parts of Europe."
32. Ἀθηνᾶς, - Athena
(name may be derived from "arising above (Ἀ) + death (θηνᾶς)")
θυμίαμα - incense
ἀρώματα. - aromatic
Παλλὰς - Pallas "under the same roof, all;" youth
μουνογενής, - alone genitive, creating = only, single (μουνο) + parent, producing, giving birth to; offspring (γενής)
μεγάλου - of great
Διὸς - Dios, Zeus? (perhaps = Zeus is the single parent, Athena has no mother because she was born, full grown and with armor, out of Zeus' head)
ἔκγονε - child, offspring
σεμνή, - solemn, revered, grand, glorious, august
δῖα - through, throughout, or, perhaps, Dia/Goddess
μάκαιρα - happy, blessed
θεά, - Goddess
πολεμόκλονε, - "raising the din of war" = polemic, war (πολεμό) + confused motion, turmoil, battle, throng, agitation, tumultuous (κλονε)
ὀμβριμόθυμε, - strong, mighty (ὀμβριμό) + spirit, passion, soul, strong feeling (θυμε)
ἄρρητε, - unspoken, arising above what is said/rhetoric
ῥητή, - stated, specified, covenanted, spoken of, famous, rationale, verbal agreement, the Law, between the Law-giver and the People; speech, rhetoric, public speech (probably saying both her unspoken (sacred) and spoken names)
μεγαλώνυμε, - with a great (μεγαλ) + name (ώνυμε) -or- realm (νυμε)
ἀντροδίαιτε, - cave, cavern; fortified tower (ἀντρο) + regime, way of life; diet; arbitrator (δίαιτε)
ἣ - shared center; or
διέπεις - manage, conduct, drive away, traverse, dispatch; fly through; lay waste, destroy utterly, sack, pierce through
ὄχθους - any height or rising ground, bank, dyke, raised banks, hill
ὑψαύχενας -"carrying the neck high; stately, towering, high-roofed, high-vaulted" = high, lofty (ὑψ) + neck, throat, handle, moutainpass, narrow sea/strait (αύχενας)
ἀκρωρείους - "of mountain heights" = pinnacle (ἀκρ) + guard house, fort (ωρείους) (probably limit, horizon)
ἠδ' - and
ὄρεα - stretch out, reach out, flow out; mountain
σκιόεντα, - shady, thickly wooded, shadowy, in shadows
νάπαισί - woodland vale, glen, valley, ravine, gully
τε - too then
σὴν - coax, fawn on, gladden, greet
φρένα - mind as the seat of mental faculties, perception, thought; heart as the seat of passions, fear, etc.; midriff/gut; will, purpose
τέρπεις, - delight, gladden, cheer, have full enjoyment of, enjoy to one's heart content
ὁπλοχαρής, - "delighting in arms" = arms, weapons (ὁπλο) +rejoice at, take pleasure in (χαρής)
οἰστροῦσα - any vehement desire, insane passion, madness, frenzy, zeal, fury
βροτῶν - human
ψυχὰς - soul, Psyche, Goddess of the soul; life
μανίαισι, - mania, mad, frenzied
γυμνάζουσα - gymnastics, train naked, practice, exercise
κόρη, - youth, daughter, son
φρικώδη - that causes shuddering or horror, inspiring religious awe, horribleness, attended with shivering, shivering fits
θυμὸν - spirit, passion
ἔχουσα, - have, hold, contain, hold fast
Γοργοφόνη, - Gorgon-killing = Gorgon (Γοργο) + murder, slaughter, slay (φόνη)
φυγόλεκτρε, - shunning (φυγό) + the marriage bed, bed (λεκτρε)
τεχνῶν - technon, technology, art, craft, system or method of making or doing, rules of art, way/manner/means by which a thing is gained, art, skill, cunning
μῆτερ - Mother
πολύολβε, - rich in blessings, very wealthy = multi, many, poli (πολύ) + whole life, happiness (ολβε)
ὁρμάστειρα, - "one who urges on" = set in motion, urge on, cheer, start, stir up, cause, begin, incite, attack (ὁρμάσ) + recruit; weaken, oppress, distress (τειρα)
φίλοιστρε - "loving frenzy, loving to inspire with frenzy" = loving, fond of (φίλο) +Ister, Danube, Istria (Croatia); -or- one who knows law and right, judge, historian (ιστρε)
κακοῖς, - bad, wretched, trouble, evil, hateful, stunted
ἀγαθοῖς - good, blessing, benefit, goods of fortune, treasures, wealth, good, capable, brave, valiant, well-born, gentle (opp. kakos)
δὲ - of, from
φρόνησις· - purpose, intention, thought, sense, judgment, practical wisdom, prudence in governance and affairs
ἄρσην - male, manly, masculine
μὲν - might, force, spirit, passion, intent, purpose, battle-rage, fierceness -or- indeed, of a truth, of course
καὶ - and
θῆλυς - female, womenly
ἔφυς, - to be so, bearing, bring forth, produce, put forth, beget, engender, begotten
πολεμήτοκε - "bringing forth war" = polemics, war (πολεμή) + childbirth, delivery, parturition (τοκε)
μῆτι, - wisdom, skill, craft, counsel, plan, undertaking, Metis (Goddess)
αἰολόμορφε, - "of changeful form" = quick-moving, nimble, changeable (αἰολό) + form, shape, morph (μορφε)
δράκαινα, - dragon (female), serpent, snake
φιλένθεε, - filled with divine influence = loving, fond of (φιλ) + enthusiasm, infusion of the divine (ένθεε)
ἀγλαότιμε, - splendidly honored = glorious, splendid (ἀγλαό) + honor (τιμε)
Φλεγραίων - volcanic, fiery red, burning, inflamed, blood-red, Phlegra (ancient name for Pallene in Thrace from its volcanic nature, birthplace of giants)
ὀλέτειρα - destroyer = all, whole (ὀλέ) + tyrant (τειρα)
Γιγάντων, - of Gigants/Giants
ἱππελάτειρα, - horse (ἱππε) + loosing (λά) + tyrant (τειρα)
Τριτογένεια, - thrice or Triton (a sea God)- (Τριτο) + born (γένεια)
λύτειρα - one who looses, deliverer
κακῶν, - of what is bad, wretched, hateful, stunted, miserable
νικηφόρε - victory bearing
δαῖμον, - power
ἤματα - day, by day, day by day, daily
καὶ - and
νύκτας - night, by night
αἰεὶ - eternal
νεάταισιν - uttermost; last; latest; extreme
ἐν - in
ὥραις,- Horai, in season, at the appropriate time
κλῦθί - hear, give ear to, attend, perceive, be called or spoken of
μευ - meta essence pure, will, wish, command, entreaty
εὐχομένου, - pray, pray for, long for, wish for, promise to, profess loudly
δὸς - give
δ' - of, from
εἰρήνην - of Peace, Eirene, Goddess of peace
πολύολβον - very wealthy, rich in blessings
καὶ - and
κόρην - of youth, of girls, of boys
ἠδ' - and
ὑγίειαν - of Hygieia, Goddess of health
ἐπ' - upon
εὐόλβοισιν - wealthy, prosperous, good blessings, good whole life
ἐν - in
ὥραις, - Horai, Goddesses of the seasons, time
γλαυκῶφ', - grey, owl, grey-eyed
εὑρεσίτεχνε, - "inventor of arts" = essence pure (εὑ) + flow (ρεσί) + technology (τεχνε)
πολυλλίστη - sought with many prayers = many, multi, poli (πολυ) + moved by prayer (λλίστη) βασίλεια. - Basileia, Queen, ruler
Athena is the Goddess of Athens, the Parthenon is her temple.
Athena is usually depicted as a warrior Goddess, but she is also associated with wise counsel and skilled craftmanship.
She is often depicted as carrying a shield with the image of a Gorgon, a monster that probably represents the power of the Earth.
Athena was born from the head of Zeus after he swallowed her pregnant mother, Metis (Goddess of wise counsel, craftmanship, wisdom) in order to protect his reign from any subsequent son.
The hymn refers to Athena as having province over caves, which could be a reference to her power over dragons, gorgons, serpents, and such creatures as dwell in caves (her power is earth's power):
Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 12. 423 & 480 ff (trans. Way): (Greek epic C4th A.D.) :
"But then a yet more hideous punishment Athena visited on his hapless sons. A cave there was, beneath a rugged cliff exceeding high, unscalable, wherein dwelt fearful monsters of the deadly brood of Typhon, in the rock-clefts of the isle Kalydna that looks Troyward from the sea. Thence stirred she up the strength of serpents twain, and summoned them to Troy. By her uproused they shook the island as with earthquake: roared the sea; the waves disparted as they came. Onward they swept with fearful-flickering tongues . . .
Swiftly they came whither the Goddess sped them: with grim jaws whetting their deadly fangs, on his hapless sons sprang they."
Athena is known for slaying the Giants/Gigantes. The Gigantes (Giants) were also born of Earth/Ge:
"Ge, it is said (Apollod. i. 6. § 1, &c.), indignant at the fate of her former children, the Titans, gave birth to the Gigantes, that is, monstrous and unconquerable giants, with fearful countenances and the tails of dragons. (Comp. Ov. Trist. iv. 7, 17.) They were born, according to some, in Phlegrae (i. e. burning fields), in Sicily, Campania, or Arcadia, and, according to others, in the Thracian Pallene. (Apollod., Paus. ll. cc. ; Pind. Nem. i. 67; Strab. pp. 245, 281, 330; Schol. ad Hom. Il. viii. 479.) It is worthy of remark that Homer, as well as later writers, places the Gigantes in volcanic districts, and most authorities in the western parts of Europe."
32. Ἀθηνᾶς, - Athena
(name may be derived from "arising above (Ἀ) + death (θηνᾶς)")
θυμίαμα - incense
ἀρώματα. - aromatic
Παλλὰς - Pallas "under the same roof, all;" youth
μουνογενής, - alone genitive, creating = only, single (μουνο) + parent, producing, giving birth to; offspring (γενής)
μεγάλου - of great
Διὸς - Dios, Zeus? (perhaps = Zeus is the single parent, Athena has no mother because she was born, full grown and with armor, out of Zeus' head)
ἔκγονε - child, offspring
σεμνή, - solemn, revered, grand, glorious, august
δῖα - through, throughout, or, perhaps, Dia/Goddess
μάκαιρα - happy, blessed
θεά, - Goddess
πολεμόκλονε, - "raising the din of war" = polemic, war (πολεμό) + confused motion, turmoil, battle, throng, agitation, tumultuous (κλονε)
ὀμβριμόθυμε, - strong, mighty (ὀμβριμό) + spirit, passion, soul, strong feeling (θυμε)
ἄρρητε, - unspoken, arising above what is said/rhetoric
ῥητή, - stated, specified, covenanted, spoken of, famous, rationale, verbal agreement, the Law, between the Law-giver and the People; speech, rhetoric, public speech (probably saying both her unspoken (sacred) and spoken names)
μεγαλώνυμε, - with a great (μεγαλ) + name (ώνυμε) -or- realm (νυμε)
ἀντροδίαιτε, - cave, cavern; fortified tower (ἀντρο) + regime, way of life; diet; arbitrator (δίαιτε)
ἣ - shared center; or
διέπεις - manage, conduct, drive away, traverse, dispatch; fly through; lay waste, destroy utterly, sack, pierce through
ὄχθους - any height or rising ground, bank, dyke, raised banks, hill
ὑψαύχενας -"carrying the neck high; stately, towering, high-roofed, high-vaulted" = high, lofty (ὑψ) + neck, throat, handle, moutainpass, narrow sea/strait (αύχενας)
ἀκρωρείους - "of mountain heights" = pinnacle (ἀκρ) + guard house, fort (ωρείους) (probably limit, horizon)
ἠδ' - and
ὄρεα - stretch out, reach out, flow out; mountain
σκιόεντα, - shady, thickly wooded, shadowy, in shadows
νάπαισί - woodland vale, glen, valley, ravine, gully
τε - too then
σὴν - coax, fawn on, gladden, greet
φρένα - mind as the seat of mental faculties, perception, thought; heart as the seat of passions, fear, etc.; midriff/gut; will, purpose
τέρπεις, - delight, gladden, cheer, have full enjoyment of, enjoy to one's heart content
ὁπλοχαρής, - "delighting in arms" = arms, weapons (ὁπλο) +rejoice at, take pleasure in (χαρής)
οἰστροῦσα - any vehement desire, insane passion, madness, frenzy, zeal, fury
βροτῶν - human
ψυχὰς - soul, Psyche, Goddess of the soul; life
μανίαισι, - mania, mad, frenzied
γυμνάζουσα - gymnastics, train naked, practice, exercise
κόρη, - youth, daughter, son
φρικώδη - that causes shuddering or horror, inspiring religious awe, horribleness, attended with shivering, shivering fits
θυμὸν - spirit, passion
ἔχουσα, - have, hold, contain, hold fast
Γοργοφόνη, - Gorgon-killing = Gorgon (Γοργο) + murder, slaughter, slay (φόνη)
φυγόλεκτρε, - shunning (φυγό) + the marriage bed, bed (λεκτρε)
τεχνῶν - technon, technology, art, craft, system or method of making or doing, rules of art, way/manner/means by which a thing is gained, art, skill, cunning
μῆτερ - Mother
πολύολβε, - rich in blessings, very wealthy = multi, many, poli (πολύ) + whole life, happiness (ολβε)
ὁρμάστειρα, - "one who urges on" = set in motion, urge on, cheer, start, stir up, cause, begin, incite, attack (ὁρμάσ) + recruit; weaken, oppress, distress (τειρα)
φίλοιστρε - "loving frenzy, loving to inspire with frenzy" = loving, fond of (φίλο) +Ister, Danube, Istria (Croatia); -or- one who knows law and right, judge, historian (ιστρε)
κακοῖς, - bad, wretched, trouble, evil, hateful, stunted
ἀγαθοῖς - good, blessing, benefit, goods of fortune, treasures, wealth, good, capable, brave, valiant, well-born, gentle (opp. kakos)
δὲ - of, from
φρόνησις· - purpose, intention, thought, sense, judgment, practical wisdom, prudence in governance and affairs
ἄρσην - male, manly, masculine
μὲν - might, force, spirit, passion, intent, purpose, battle-rage, fierceness -or- indeed, of a truth, of course
καὶ - and
θῆλυς - female, womenly
ἔφυς, - to be so, bearing, bring forth, produce, put forth, beget, engender, begotten
πολεμήτοκε - "bringing forth war" = polemics, war (πολεμή) + childbirth, delivery, parturition (τοκε)
μῆτι, - wisdom, skill, craft, counsel, plan, undertaking, Metis (Goddess)
αἰολόμορφε, - "of changeful form" = quick-moving, nimble, changeable (αἰολό) + form, shape, morph (μορφε)
δράκαινα, - dragon (female), serpent, snake
φιλένθεε, - filled with divine influence = loving, fond of (φιλ) + enthusiasm, infusion of the divine (ένθεε)
ἀγλαότιμε, - splendidly honored = glorious, splendid (ἀγλαό) + honor (τιμε)
Φλεγραίων - volcanic, fiery red, burning, inflamed, blood-red, Phlegra (ancient name for Pallene in Thrace from its volcanic nature, birthplace of giants)
ὀλέτειρα - destroyer = all, whole (ὀλέ) + tyrant (τειρα)
Γιγάντων, - of Gigants/Giants
ἱππελάτειρα, - horse (ἱππε) + loosing (λά) + tyrant (τειρα)
Τριτογένεια, - thrice or Triton (a sea God)- (Τριτο) + born (γένεια)
λύτειρα - one who looses, deliverer
κακῶν, - of what is bad, wretched, hateful, stunted, miserable
νικηφόρε - victory bearing
δαῖμον, - power
ἤματα - day, by day, day by day, daily
καὶ - and
νύκτας - night, by night
αἰεὶ - eternal
νεάταισιν - uttermost; last; latest; extreme
ἐν - in
ὥραις,- Horai, in season, at the appropriate time
κλῦθί - hear, give ear to, attend, perceive, be called or spoken of
μευ - meta essence pure, will, wish, command, entreaty
εὐχομένου, - pray, pray for, long for, wish for, promise to, profess loudly
δὸς - give
δ' - of, from
εἰρήνην - of Peace, Eirene, Goddess of peace
πολύολβον - very wealthy, rich in blessings
καὶ - and
κόρην - of youth, of girls, of boys
ἠδ' - and
ὑγίειαν - of Hygieia, Goddess of health
ἐπ' - upon
εὐόλβοισιν - wealthy, prosperous, good blessings, good whole life
ἐν - in
ὥραις, - Horai, Goddesses of the seasons, time
γλαυκῶφ', - grey, owl, grey-eyed
εὑρεσίτεχνε, - "inventor of arts" = essence pure (εὑ) + flow (ρεσί) + technology (τεχνε)
πολυλλίστη - sought with many prayers = many, multi, poli (πολυ) + moved by prayer (λλίστη) βασίλεια. - Basileia, Queen, ruler
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